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Thinner changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease
Liu D, Zhang L, Li Z, Zhang X, Wu Y, Yang H, Min B, Zhang X et al.. BMC neurology, 2015-02-21
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and patients often have visual disorders. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a memory deficit when compared with those of a similar age and education level which could indicate an earlier onset of AD. The aim of this study is to measure the changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of AD and MCI patients in comparison with the normal age controls. Methods The RNFL thickness was assessed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with MCI, AD (mild, moderate and severe) and the age matched controls. Results The thickness of RNFL in the superior quadrant and total mean values are gradually and significantly decreased from MCI to severe AD when compared to that in the controls. There is also a significant reduction of the retinal nerve fiber layer in the inferior quadrant in severe AD patients. Conclusions Our data indicate that the retinal nerve fiber layer degeneration is paralleled with dementia progression. Owing to its non-invasive and cost effective nature, monitoring RNFL thickness may have a value in assessing disease progression and the efficacy of any treatments.
Key findings
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a memory deficit when compared with those of a similar age and education level which could indicate an earlier onset of AD.
- Results The thickness of RNFL in the superior quadrant and total mean values are gradually and significantly decreased from MCI to severe AD when compared to that in the controls.
- There is also a significant reduction of the retinal nerve fiber layer in the inferior quadrant in severe AD patients.
- Conclusions Our data indicate that the retinal nerve fiber layer degeneration is paralleled with dementia progression.
Why it matters
Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness decreased gradually from mild cognitive impairment to severe Alzheimer's disease compared with controls. The authors suggest monitoring this thickness may help assess disease progression and treatment effects, but this study did not test any treatment.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMC neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | BMC Neurology: journal h-index 122 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2015 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 145 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.2 citations a year over 13 year(s) since 2015 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 30 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Yan Lu: h-index 8 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Imperial College London: institution h-index 1,744 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 25886372) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Liu, D., Zhang, L., Li, Z., Zhang, X., Wu, Y., Yang, H., et al. (2015). Thinner changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. BMC neurology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-015-0268-6
Vancouver
Liu D, Zhang L, Li Z, Zhang X, Wu Y, Yang H, et al. Thinner changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. BMC neurology. 2015. doi:10.1186/s12883-015-0268-6. PMID: 25886372.
BibTeX
@article{liu2015-25886372,
author = {Liu, D. and Zhang, L. and Li, Z. and Zhang, X. and Wu, Y. and Yang, H. and Min, B. and others},
title = {{Thinner changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {BMC neurology},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1186/s12883-015-0268-6},
pmid = {25886372},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-015-0268-6}
}
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